Baby Rattles – Introduction
Originally, rattles with bells
were used by prehistoric man to chase away evil spirits. Then it was
found to be a great toy that can be used s to amuse and to quiet crying
babies. There are so many benefits of baby rattles. Rattles provide
stimulation to babies through sight, sound and touch. Babies are
naturally curious and learn about the world around them through
interaction, whether it is people or objects.
A major benefit of babies is the
way that rattles incite a baby’s sense of hearing. As the name
implies, a rattle is a toy that creates a sound. A rattle’s sound is
soft and does not intimidate or startle a baby. Sound recognition is an
important part of the developmental process.
The sense of touch is also
utilized when a baby plays with a rattle. The rattles of newborns tend
to very soft. As an infant ages, the rattle is made of more durable
material such as wood or plastic. A baby will learn that there are
different textures and that they can range from soft to hard.
Another benefits of rattles is
the visual display for a baby. They see and are attracted to the bright
colors of the rattle. Also, rattles that are see-through allow a baby
to see the colorful beads moving inside the rattle.
An additional benefit of rattles
in an infant’s development is the concept of cause and effect. Rattles
are a perfect demonstration of how actions bring about consequences. A
baby realizes that when the rattle is shaken, it makes a noise. A baby’s
eyes will widen with wonder and curiosity. The harder the rattle is
shaken, the louder is the noise emitted. Babies soon discover the
handles of rattles and learn how to grasp the rattle. Rattles introduce
babies to shapes due to the wide variety of rattle shapes available.
They are some that have rounded edges and some that are more angular.
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